Additional Stearns Staffers on Leave Amid 'De-escalation' AllegationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:53PM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Additional Stearns Elementary School staff members have been placed on leave amid allegations of using a bathroom to "de-escalate" students.
On Monday, Principal Sara Luciani notified the school community "as our investigation continues and new information has been obtained, additional paraprofessionals assigned to Room 1 have been placed on administrative leave, effective Friday, March 7, 2025."
The Department of Children and Families and Pittsfield Public Schools are investigating, and the district is reviewing its protocols for de-escalation strategies.
Last week, Superintendent Joseph Curtis reported that on Feb. 26, Luciani received an
>> Read More |
Berkshire Officials Back Bills to Protect Minors From Sexual AbuseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:15PM / Monday, March 10, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local officials urge the passage of "long overdue" legislation to protect minors from sexual abuse by adults who are teachers, mentors, or other positions of trust.
"When I began my career as a prosecutor, I specialized in the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. In the mid-1980s, this was a taboo topic. Something rarely discussed, much less prosecuted. During those early years, I worked to normalize the prosecution of child abuse cases and to protect our most vulnerable population, our children," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said during a virtual press conference on Monday.
"In 1993, I founded the Berkshire County
>> Read More |
Stearns Staff Accused of Using Bathroom to 'De-Escalate' StudentsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
09:59AM / Friday, March 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Several Stearns Elementary School staff were put on leave at the end of February for allegations of using a bathroom to "de-escalate" students.
A report was filed with the state Department of Children and Families and separate investigations are being conducted by DCF and the Pittsfield Public Schools.
On Thursday, Superintendent Joseph Curtis sent a communication to PPS families reporting that on Feb. 26, Stearns Principal Sara Luciani received an allegation that staff members in Room 7 and Room 1 were using a classroom bathroom in Room 7 as a place for students to de-escalate.
"Principal Luciani investigated immediately and then informed
>> Read More |
BCC to Hold Workforce CompTIA Security Certification Virtual Trainings | 07:40AM / Friday, March 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College's Workforce and Community Education department will hold a CompTIA Security-plus Certification virtual training beginning on March 31. The 13-week training will occur online on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and run through June 25. Scholarships are available for eligible students. This training will equip participants with essential cybersecurity skills and prepare them for the CompTIA Security-plus certification exam. This industry-recognized certification validates the ability to secure networks, detect threats, and protect data. This course is ideal for individuals with CompTIA-plus >> Read More |
Pittsfield School Policy Panel Endorses Social Media RegsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:05AM / Wednesday, March 05, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — School officials feel an urgent need to update the policy manual for social media.
Last week, the Policy subcommittee sent a revised document to the School Committee that bars teachers and staff from friending students and giving out their private phone numbers. It is based on the Massachusetts Association of School Committees' model.
"I think we need to build it into the policy manual while everything else is a work in progress," Chair William Cameron said. "I think this needs to go in there now."
According to the policy, the superintendent and principals will annually remind staff members and orient new ones of the
>> Read More |
Pittsfield School Committee Stands With LGBTQ-plus StudentsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:27PM / Tuesday, March 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee last week affirmed its commitment to protecting LGBTQ-plus students.
On Wednesday, the committee adopted a Safe Schools Resolution that declares the Pittsfield Public Schools a safe space for all students regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation and a safe space to explore gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
It was brought forward by William Garrity, who was inspired by the resolution made by Worcester School Committee member Susan Mailman. Garrity, who graduated from Taconic High School in 2022, said the school had a "good-sized" population of LGBTQ-plus students.
He asserted that students exist in the schools
>> Read More |
Pittsfield Middle Schools to Restructure in Fall 2026By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:34AM / Tuesday, March 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.—The School Committee is okay with pushing middle school restructuring back one year, recognizing that it is a complicated project needing due diligence. Superintendent Joseph Curtis will bring a proposed timeline to the committee on March 26. This will pave a path for a junior high model that groups all fifth and sixth graders in one school and all seventh and eighth graders in another— allowing for universal pre-kindergarten at the elementary level. "I do think waiting a year and planning a year for this and working with the staff who will be working in the building or those buildings is the sound way to go with this," Chair William >> Read More |
DCF Clears Two Pittsfield High AdministratorsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:02PM / Friday, February 28, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.—The Department of Children and Families has reportedly cleared two Pittsfield High School administrators of misconduct: Dean of Students Molly West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard.
On Friday, School Committee Chair William Cameron confirmed that DCF’s 51A investigation of allegations of abuse or neglect made against PHS Dean of Students Molly West was unsupported.
"(Superintendent Joseph Curtis) told me yesterday that his office has received formal notice from DCF that the agency's investigation of those allegations has been completed, and that the allegations were found to be unsupported," Cameron wrote VIA email.
Earlier in the
>> Read More |
Pittsfield Will Seek an Interim School Superintendent By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:10PM / Thursday, February 27, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Joseph Curtis will be replaced by an interim superintendent in June.
On Wednesday, the School Committee authorized the personnel/negotiations subcommittee to search for an interim superintendent that starts no later than July 1-- earlier if possible.
"I wish we were not having to do this," Chair William Cameron said.
A couple of weeks ago, Curtis announced that he would be stepping down at the end of June after 30 years with the Pittsfield Public Schools. He read an emotional message that explained his decision is "The right decision for me, for the district, and the community I care deeply about."
The outgoing superintendent said in
>> Read More |
Pittsfield Schools' Investigation Clears One AdministratorBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires.com
06:54PM / Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Allegations against one Pittsfield High School staff member have been found to be “unsustained” by an investigator hired by the school district. On Wednesday, School Committee Chair William Cameron reported that the first part of the investigation led by Mary-Lou Rup, a retired Superior Court judge, was completed and one of the school’s two deans, Molly West, was cleared by Rup. “What has been received pertains to the allegations made against Pittsfield High School Dean of Students Molly West,” Cameron reported. “The investigator’s detailed report finds the allegations made >> Read More |
|
|
